Have you seen the ombre manicure that was featured in InStyle Magazine? In my post on multi-colored nails we saw CND’s version for the Kai Kuhne runway last February that they called a gradation. Either way I think it’s a fun play on the concept of a gradated manicure and much easier to replicate at home.

You may remember that I wore a gradated CalGel manicure at NY Fashion Week last season and while I loved the style, it’s not exactly DIY friendly. So I put my twist on ombre multi-colored nails with, what else, a green version. Check it out!

The idea here is to custom blend varying shades of the same color, working across your hand from lightest to darkest. However I went a different route than the method suggested by InStyle. Rather than combine pure white polish into a dark lacquer, having to create 4 separate mixes, I chose a light green and a dark green with similar color traits and blended them to create the mid-tone hues. I selected Illamasqua Milf and RBL Orbis Non Suficit because they both have a slightly grayed, dusty quality to them and I wanted a muted look.

Products and Tools:Illamasqua Milf Nail LacquerRescue Beauty Lounge Orbis Non SuficitAcrylic pigment jars (easily found on eBay or at craft stores)Toothpicks (for mixing)Clean nail polish brush. I used one from an empty polish bottle I bought for frankening.

Tips:*Have your nails prepped with base coat applied before beginning.*Apply the polish as soon as it is mixed. Exposure to air will cause it to thicken quickly and dry shortly after.*Mix the lightest color first and apply immediately before moving on.*Clean your brush with remover between colors to avoid streaks from previously mixed polishes.*Regarding my formulas below, I remove the brush from the bottle without wiping it against the sides and the amount that drips off equals one drop.

Note: Because this is a demo I only mixed colors for my middle and ring fingers and left my thumb out. You will want to mix three shades for a full manicure.

Ring finger mix: Start with 7 drops of Milf and add 1 drop of Orbis Non Suficit. For me, the color was darker than I wanted so I added one more drop of Milf.

Middle finger mix: Use an equal amount of both lacquers. 4 drops each of Milf and Orbis Non Suficit.

The Finished Result!

What I love about this look is that it’s much softer than the “Skittles Nails” I’ve worn in the past. It’s not as bright and in your face. In fact you could make the variations much more subtle by choosing polishes that are even closer in tone. Or if you follow the InStyle method, adding white polish, your nails could vary by a single drop.

So what do you think of this look? Is this something you’d be willing to try at home? If you’ve done a similar manicure, what shades did you use? I actually received a message from a reader, Sarah, who blended a gorgeous grayed purple version using OPI Siberian Nights and China Glaze Agent Lavendar. Share your creations in the comments!

There are people with so many polishes they could do something similar without mixing LOL. I may have enough pinks already. Hehe. I know that is crazy. I think it is cool. I am too lazy to mix my polishes. Ironically I love to paint. Maybe I will mix my own shade someday. I tend to just layer if a color isn't exactly what I am looking for.

wow finally ive found a way of being able to wear a complete collection on my nails yay. ive recently been wearing Nubars cleopatra collection which is a divine collection of purples so now i can wear evey shade yay. check them out on beautyshed.co.uk, or if you would like i could send you some samples.

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Ok, gave it a try today using a dark purple metallic polish from Victoria's Secret and Sally Hansen's All the White Stuff. Didn't turn out too well, but I learned a few things:-use a good brush; mine got very stiff from the remover and didn't apply smoothly. I think it's because it was cheap.-metallics lose their metallic nature when combined with a creme-you will use a lot of nail polish the first time, so be prepared if it's a polish you like-dark pigments need a lot of white to produce any noticeable difference in color

ooh, i just tried china glaze platinum pearl and a darker slate blue metallic – turned out soo pretty!!! i just did mine on paper and used the brush from the darker polish's bottle. but that gave me the idea of just mixing polishes!! kinda like frankening on a smaller scale, less risky and more room for experimentation. i am having lots of fun right now!!

Would seem easiest to me to start with several drops of white, stir in a drop or two of your dark and paint nail one, another drop or two of dark, paint nail two, another drop or two…you get the picture. But it all seems too much of a PITA to me. Paint your nails white and then use a sheer. Finger one, one coat, finger two, two coats etc.

I tried the ombre manicure a very long time ago & I must say, it was a pain trying to get the middle shades to look different. I used a chalky white with OPI’s Funky Dunkey. Next time, I’ll try it with maybe OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark & Funky Dunkey.
And even though I’m late to this party, your blog is GREAT! I stumbled upon it after googling “olive green nail polish”. I just came from my local OPI dealer, and they’re out of Uh-Oh (I live in NYC). I suspect this will be the case wherever I go, so I need an alternative.
Lo and behold, everything I need to choose my nail looks for the season is right here! You have a new fan who can’t wait to read more.

I got some sets of ombre nail polish at Beauty.com by The New Black. They were easier than mixing which is what i used to do before. And they were cheap.I got the blue set
and the black to silver set- but now I really want the pink…
They turned out great and no wasting product like when I mixed.

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